Strozzi

Bach

(Germany) - Many children...Famous Lutheran organist and composer. Wrote pieces for and trained many religious choirs. Composed Cantata 80 and Contrapunctus I. Wrote for the church and composed weekly.

Lully

Handel

(International: Germany, Italy, England)- born in Germany but recognized as an English composer as he composed mainly English opera and became a nationalized citizen. Key compositions- Messiah, Water Music

opera

oratorio

large scale dramatic genre based on a text of religious or serious character and performed by solo voices, chorus, and orchestra; similar to opera but without scenery, costumes, or action (and obviously Sacred)

cantata

sacred or secular vocal genre for solo singers, chorus, and instrumentalists based on a lyric or dramatic poetic narrative, consisting several movements like recitatives, arias, and ensembles (20 min max)

Dutch School of Painters

absolutism

Louis XIV

French king that came up with absolutism and divine right of kings. Extended the palace at Versailles. The palace's gardens are extremely symmetrical, and the whole palace is extravagant (extravagant vs. control)

continuo (basso continuo)

Stradivarius

castrato

Male singer who was castrated during boyhood to preserve the soprano or alto vocal register, prominent in seventeenth- and early-eighteenth-century opera. best combination of man, woman, and boy. Farinelli is a famous castrato singer

aria

da capo aria

arioso style

lighter than an aria. Arioso is similar to recitative due to its unrestrained structure and inflexions, close to those of speech. It differs however in its rhythm. Arioso is similar to aria in its melodic form, both being closer to singing than recitative; however they differ in form, arioso generally not resorting to the process of repetition.

libretto

tragedie lyrique

masque

"semi-opera"-used as loop hole the restriction wasn't to the opera, it was that the commonwealth outlawed ACTING/theater, so to be able to have plays they sang them to pass them off as a concert which was allowed by commonwealth (book pg 127)

opera seria

Dance Suite

binary vs. ternary form

divertissement

A short performance, typically a ballet, that is presented as an interlude in an opera or play. During the 17th and 18th century, the term implied incidental aspects of an entertainment (usually involving singing and dancing) that might be inserted in an opera or ballet or other stage performance. In the operas of Lully these 'divertissements' were sometimes linked to the main plot, or performed at the close of the performance.

Rondeau

Ritornello was a predecessor to the Rondeau. It has the form ABACA. Most likely written for festivals. music that is fast and vivacious—normally allegro. Many classical rondos feature music of a popular or folk character. Music that has been designated as "rondo" normally subscribes to both the form and character. musical form (round dance) that is the last movement of a sonata